Method for mixing and distributing printing press water solution



1966 H. w. GEGENHElMER ETAL 3,233,619

METHOD FOR MIXING AND DISTRIBUTING PRINTING PRESS WATER SOLUTIONOriginal Filed Nov. 14. l96l 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG- INVENTORS HAROLD W.GEGENHEIMER ATTORN EYS Feb. 8, 1966 H. w. GEGENHEIMER ETAL 1,

METHOD FOR MIXING AND DISTRIBUTING PRINTING PRESS WATER SOLUTIONOriginal Filed Nov. 14, 1961 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 7/ 3%MER HAROLD W. G

W N. STAD BY ANDRE E. TOBIAS Feb. 8, 1966 Original Filed Nov. 14, 1961H. w. GEGENHEIMER ETAL 3,233,619

METHOD FOR MIXING AND DISTRIBUTING PRINTING PRESS WATER SOLUTION 5Sheets-Sheet 5 71D. RELAY (M6,) 2 .SEC. lZZAY mwm LIMIT INVENTORS FlG-6ATTORNEYS HAROLD W. GEGENHEIMER ANDREW N. STA

PHILIP E. TQBIAS United States Patent 3 Claims. c1. 131-1 Thisapplication is a division of our co-pending application Serial No.152,205, now Patent No. 3,166,095, filed November 14, 1961.

The present invention relates to a fluid mixing and distributing deviceand more particularly to a device for automatically mixing a solution ofthe proper amount of ingredients and supplying such solution to thewater fountain pan of an offset printing press in a continuously flowingre-circulating system.

Offset printing presses are generally provided with a water fountainwhich is filled with a solution of gum arabic dissolved in water and aslight proportion of chromic or phosphoric acid. The damping rollersapply this etch and gum water solution to the non-printing portions ofthe printing plate on the plate cylinder of the press thus ensuring thatno ink from the inking rollers will be received on those dampened partsof the plate, The proportions of a particular etch and gum solution aredictated by a number of factors, including the type of ink used, thenature of the printed work, the color being printed, and the type ofpaper to be printed, to name a few.

Heretofore, an offset press operator has had to be alert to replenishthe supply of solution in the press water fountain pan since a dry-upwould result in ink being applied to the non-printing portions of theprinting plate, thereby spoiling a printing run.

The replenishment was generally done on a batch basis as needed and inlarge offset printing plants the constant replenishment of the waterfountain pans was a costly, tedious and time-consuming job. Further, themanual replenishment at the water fount solution was often accompaniedby accidental flooding of the water fountain pan so that an excess ofsolution was applied to the dampening rollers. Also, spillages of thesolution occurred onto the operating portions of the press and onto thematerial to be printed. Such spillages of acid solution often requiredthe press to be stopped for cleaning and generally ruined the printingmaterial upon which it spilled. In web fed presses, spillages generallycaused a break in the web material being printed. Dry-ups, spillages andflooding of the water fountain solution all contribute to increasedcosts of operation and reduction of printing quality.

Attempts have been made to keep the solution in the water fountain pansreplenished at a constant level by furnishing individual units for eachpress. These units while answering the purpose of smaller presses andprinting plants, were usually of a fixed capacity and such individualunits required supervision lest a particular press water fountain rundry when its associated unit was depleted. In a large printing plant orfor very large presses supervision of individual units is time-consumingand tedious.

The present invention is characterized by the provision of a novelre-circulating system for the water solution running through the waterfountain pan of an offset press from central supply unit whichcontinuously and automatically supplies the water solution from thecentral supply unit to water fountains of a large press or the 3,233,619Patented Feb. 8, 1966 fountains of a number of presses. The etch and gumconcentrate is placed in the supply unit, generally once every 24 hourwork shift, the plant water supply is connected and the solutionconcentration is set on an associated metering tank and the device isready to supply the proper solution to the water fountain pans andmaintain the solution in the pans at the proper level. The supply to thepress is force fed in a circulating system through the press waterfountain pan by a pump at the supply unit. The return line from the panis connected to a filtering tank to remove any sludge from the solutionbefore return of the solution to the supply tank.

The supply unit includes means for replenishing the solution in thesupply tank when it reaches a predetermined level. A liquid levelcontrol unit actuates a control circuit when the solution supply in thetank drops to a set level. The pump is stopped and the preset amount ofgum concentrate is fed through the metering tank together with the entryof water from the water supply line into the solution tank. When thesolution in the supply tank reaches a preset upper level, the watersupply and gum concentrate supply lines are closed and the pumprestarted to circulate the fresh solution mixture through the fountainswhich are thus automatically maintained with a predetermined level ofcontinuously circulating solution. The liquid level control unit ispreset to relatively small batches of new solution so that a freshlymixed solution is continuously supplied to the water fountain pans.

Another object of the invention is to provide, in a mechanism formaintaining a circulating supply of etch and gum water solution in apress water fountain pan, a novel control system for maintaining thesupply of solution in the mechanism at preset levels, includinginterrupting the circulation of the solution and replenishing the supplywhen the supply in the mechanism drops to a preset lower level andre-cstablishing the circulation of the solution when the solution supplyreaches a preset upper level.

An additional object of the invention is to provide, in a device formaintaining a circulating supply of etch and gum water solution in apress water fountain pan, a novel metering tank for furnishing thedesired amount of etch and gum concentrate to the solution supply tankof the device in response to the entry of water into the supply tank.

A further object of the invention is to provide a simple, efficient andnovel device for continuously supplying etch and gum water solution tothe water fountain pans of a plurality of printing presses.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be obvious herefromor may be learned by practice with the invention the same being realizedand attained by means of the instrumentalities and combinations pointedout in the appended claims.

The invention consists in novel parts, constructions, arrangements,combinations and improvements herein shown and described.

The accompanying drawings referred to herein and constituting a parthereof illustrate one embodiment of the invention and together with thedescription serve to explain the principles of the invention.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a front view of the preferred embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the device shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side view of the device shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a front view of the novel metering tank of the presentinvention;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along lines 5-5, FIG. 4; and, i

FIG. 6 is a schematic electrical wiring diagram of a suitable controlcircuit for the present invention.

General description Referring to the drawings and specifically to FIGS.13, the preferred embodiment of the water fountain solution supply unit,designated ge erally it), includes a generally rectangular frame 12supported on legs 14 at each corner thereof and including front and rearstruts 16 and 13 and side panels 17 and 19.

Unit 1% comprises a main tank 2!}, preferably of Fiberglas or other acidresistant material, divided by a removable center-wall divider 22 intotwo separate compartments 24 and 26. Tank 20 is provided with aperipheral lip or flange portion 21 which is supported on anaccommodating shoulder 13 on frame 12. A two-section movable top 15, onframe 12, is provided to cover compartments 24 and 26 of tank 20.

Compartment 24 of tank 25) constitutes a storage reservoir for holdingthe etch and gum concentrate while compartment 26 is provided forcontaining the mixed water fountain solution. Connected to compartment26 is the main Water supply line 39 through which fresh water is fedunder pressure to compartment 26.

To feed the etch and gum concentrate from cornpartmeat 24 to mixingcompartment 26, there is provided a suitable supply line 32 connected tothe inlet of a metering tank 34. Tank 34 in turn is connected at itsoutlet by line 36 to water supply line 36 through a suitable aspirator38.

The solution, in turn, is fed from compartment 26 of supply tank 20 tothe water fountain pans (not shown) of the presses by a suitablemotor-driven centrifugal pump 40 connected to the fountain pan supplyline 42.. Centrifugal pump 46 and its drive motor 41 are preferablybuilt as an integral unit and are of stainless steel or other corrosionresistant material with pump at having preferably a lift of aboutthirty-four feet.

In the preferred embodiment, pump 44) supplies the water fountainsolution in a continuous circulating flow through the press pans. Thereturn flow from the pans is carried back to unit It] by a suitablereturn line 44 which deposits the return solution into a filtering tank46 carried in a support frame 48. Frame 48 includes a pair of sidebrackets 56 and 52 fixed to side panels 17 and 19', respectivcly, ofmain frame 12. The return flow of solution is deposited on to a finemesh screen 54 removably mounted in tank 46. Screen 54 is operative toremove the sludge carried by the solution from the press Water fountainpans before it is returned to the mixing compartment 26. It will beunderstood that tank 46 is supported in frame 48 in inclined positionsuch that one corner thereof is lowermost. A drain 47 is located at thislowermost corner to return the filtered solution in tank 46 gravitatingtheretowarcl into compartment 26, thus, a recirculating flow of freshsolution is continuously supplied to the water fountain pan of thepress.

Metering tank Referring specifically to FIGS. 4 and 5, metering tank 34'which precisely controls the amount of etch and gum concentrate fed tomixing compartment 26, is of novel construction and comprises an outerhousing 33, preferably of cylindrical configuration, and includes frontand rear cover plates 35 and 37, respectively, to form a closedcylindrical chamber 39 therein.

Metering tank 34 is supported beneath tank Ed on a front bracket 56fixed to front cover plate 35 and, in turn, being carried by front strut16. Rear cover plate 37 is fixed to a second bracket carried by rearstrut 18. Metering tank 34 is thus supported to dispose the central axisof chamber 39 in generally horizontal plane.

Concentrate supply line 32 is connected to tank 34 and communicates withchamber .39 adjacent to the bottom thereof. Mounted axially in chamber39 is a solid shaft 60 rotatably supported at one end in a suitablebearing 4 m in front plate 35. The end of shaft 6%) extending outwardlyof chamber 39 through plate 35 has an actuating knob 64 for reasonshereinhelow set forth. A breather tube s1 communicates with chamber 39to prevent the development of an air lock therein.

The end of shaft as remote from knob 64 is disposed in the enlarged end65 of a stepped sleeve 66 coaxially fixed thereto. The narrowerelongated section 67 of sleeve 66 is carried in a suitable bearing tit;in rear plate 37, and is rotatably mounted in a connector 7i) carried bybearing as and attached to line 36.

Fixed transversely of sleeve as at its enlarged end 65 is a secondsleeve or tube 72 whose free end is disposed adjacent the innerperiphery of chamber 3% with the internal cavity 71 of sleeve '72communicating with the internal cavity 63 of sleeve 66 and thus withline 36.

An indicator 74 is mounted transversely on shaft 60 adjacent knob 64 anddisposed relative to the axis of shaft so at right angles to tube 72(see FIG. 4). The free end 73 of indicator 74 is adapt-ed to travelalong an indicator gauge plate 76 for positioning by actuation of knobas at the desired setting thereon of etch and gum concentrate feed.

In operation, when etch and gum concentrate .is drawn out of tank 34 inresponse to movement of water through aspirator 38, the contents of tank34 are drained to the level of the free end 71 of tube '72. Thus withtube 72 set transversely of indicator 74, when the free end of theindicator 74 is set at zero, end '71 of tube 72 is positioned at the topof horizontally-disposed chamber 39 so that no concentrate is drainedtherefrom by aspirator 38. Conversely, when indicator 74 is at sixounces, the end 71 of tube 72 is located at the bottom of chamber 39 sothat all its contents will be drained therefrom by aspirator 38.Intermediate settings of indicator 74 result in predetermined amountsbetween zero and six ounces per gallon of concentrate being drawn fromchamber 39 by the action of aspirator 38. Thus, metering tank 34 and itsassociated mechanism provides a simple, sure means of feeding preciseamounts of concentrate from compartment 24 into mixing compartment 26 inresponse to the entry of water into compartment 26.

Electrical control system The cyclic operation of unit it), hereinfaterdescribed in detail, is effected by the suitable electrical controlsystem schematically illustrated in FIG. 6. This system includesthree-position, control switches 101, 105, 107, mounted on control panel9% which are, in usual operation, all on the normal position. A suitableliquid level control element is set to interrupt the circuit energizingmotor 41 of pump 40 when the fluid level in com partment 26 reaches apreset lower level B (preferably five gallons). When level B is reached,contacts 102 and 192a of element 16%} are closed and. 102 and 1021) areopen. This interrupts the circuit energizing pump motor 41 whilecompleting a circuit energizing a normally-open solenoid valve 104 inline 32 to close the feed of etch and gum concentrate from compartment24 to tank 34.

Simultaneously, the normally-closed solenoid valve 106 in line 36,between tank 34 and aspirator 38, is opened while the normally-closedsolenoid valve 168 in main water supply 3i) is also opened. The circuitto pump motor 41 also includes a normally-closed solenoid valve 109 inline 42 to the water fountain pans. It will be understood that theinterruption of the circuit to valve 169 stops the feed from unit it) tothe water pans.

The opening of valve 108 permits water under pressure to be fed throughaspirator 38 into compartment 26. The feed of water through aspirator 38creates a vacuum therein which sucks the etch and gum concentrate intank 34 through aspirator 33 into compartment 26 for mixing With freshwater. Water and concentrate are thus continuously fed into compartment26 until the,

preset amount of concentrate from tank 34 has all been deposited intocompartment 26 and the solution level therein reaches an upper presetlevel A (preferably 15 gallons).

In construction, the relative sizes of the water supply line 30, line 36and aspirator 30 are such as to insure that tank 34 will be completelydrained before all the required water is fed into compartment 26. Thisinsures that the proper solution proportions are always maintained ineach solution mixture. In normal operation, the total elapsed time forthe mixing operations is approximately two minutes.

When the upper level limit A is reached, contacts 102 and 102a areopened and contacts 102 and 1021) are closed. This interrupts thecircuit energizing solenoid valves 104, 106 and 108, reclosing valves106 and 108 and reopening valve 104. In addition, the closing ofcontacts 102 and 102b re-establishes the circuit energizing pump motor41 and solenoid valve 109.

To insure that valves 104, 106, 103 and 109 are not opened or closedagainst the action of pump 40, there is provided in the circuitactuating pump motor 41, a normally-opened time delay relay 110 whichdelays the re-actuation of pump motor 41 for preferably two secondsafter the completion of the circuit thereto. This twosecond delay issufiicient to permit the solenoid valves to return to normal operatingposition without adverse effect from the action of pump 40.

It will be understood that when the lower B is reached and pump 4'0 isdeactuated, no time delay is required between de-energizing of pump 40and the actuation of solenoid valves 104, 106, 108 and 109, since withthe circuit to pump motor 41 interrup ed, valves 104-, 106, 108 and 109have to overcome from pump 40 only a negligible force.

To give an indication of when unit is in the process of mixing a newsolution, there is provided a read panel signal light 111 which isenergized when contacts 102 and 102a are closed. A second light 113provided, preferably at the rear of the machine, and energized whenelement 100 is energized provides an easy means for Visual inspection ofthe levels in compartments 24 and 26 of opaque tank 20. Further, thereis provided a normally-closed time delay relay 115 for element 100. Timedelay relay 115 is operative when the level of the liquid is betweenlimits A and B to permit resumption of pump 40 in the event switch 101is moved to off position and then moved back to normal position.

A suitable liquid level control element 100 is the Versa- Tran liquidlevel control unit commercially available from the Minneapolis-HoneywellRegulator Co., Industrial Division, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

During the cleaning cycle hereinafter described, switches 101, 103, 105and 107 are moved to clean position. While element 100 is thus stillactuated, contacts 102, 102a and 10211 are by-passed. The circuitcompleted by moving switches 101, 103, 105 and 107 to clean positionenergizes pump motor 11, actuates solenoid valve 106, and by-passessolenoid valve 117 with valves 104, 108 and 109 unaffected by thiscleaning circuit.

Operation To start initial operation of unit 10, etch and gumconcentrate is placed in compartment 24 of supply tank 20. Switches 101and 105 are moved to normal position to fill metering tank 34 with etchand gum concentrate. When tank 34 is full, switches 101 and 105 are thendeactuated. Preferably, an initial batch of about five gallons ofdesired water fountain solution is made up manually and placed incompartment 26 to a level therein just below the preferably lower presetlimit B of liquid level unit 100. Indicator '74 of metering tank 34is'set at the desired water fountain solution setting of concentrate,the main water supply control valve 33 is 6 turned on and all theswitches 101, 103 105 and 107 are moved to their normal position.Henceforth, the operation of unit 10 and the circulation of the fountainsolution is automatically controlled in responseto the amount of mixedsolution in compartment 26.

With the switches, 101, 103, 105 and 107 actuated to normal and theamount of solution in compartment 26 below the lower preset level limitB of control element 100, the circuit energizing motor 41 of pump 40 isinterrupted wnile valves 104 and 109 are closed and valves 106 and 108are opened. This momentarily stops feed of solution to the pan. Freshwater in line 30 enters compartment 26 through aspirator 38, forming asuction action which draws the selected amount of concentrate from tank34 into compartmentZd to be mixed with the fresh water to give theproper water fountain solution.

When the solution in compartment 26 reaches the preset upper level A ofelement 100, solenoid valves 106 and 103 are closed, solenoid valve 104is reopen-ed to fill tank 34, solenoid valve 109 in line 42ris reopenedand pump 40 is energized to pump the solution. through line 42 to theassociated water fountain pan of the press. Pump 40 continues to operateuntil the level of the solution in compartment 26 again falls below thelower preset level B of element when the cyclic operation of the controlsystem of unit 10 is repeated.

As described above, panel light 111, when energized, indicates that theunit 10 is in the mixing cycle and is operative to preclude deactuationof unit 10 during the mixing cycle. As stated hereinabove, preferablythe preselected amount of etch and gum concentrate is fed to compartment26 before the required amount of water enters compartment 26. If unit 10is deactuated during this mixing cycle, upon re-actuation, pump 40 willsend a stronger Water fountain solution to the press than desired. Thus,panel light 111 is provided to prevent inadvertent de-actuation of unit10 during the mixing cycle and thereby insures proper water fountainsolution proportions at all times.

Periodically andpreferably weekly, the accumulated sludge is clearedfrom unit 10. Both compartments 24 and 26 and tank 34 are drained oftheir contents through drain lines 110, 112 and 114, respectively, andcompartments 24 and 26 filled with plain hot water above level A.Switches 101, 103, and 107 are moved to clean position to recirculatethe hot water through those portions of the system through which the gumarabic and acid solution passes. However, during the cleaning cycle, thehot water by-passes the water fountain pans through a by-pass line 116.The movement of the cleaning fluid through line 116 is controlled bysolenoid valve 117 which, during the cleaning cycle of unit 10, is openand valve 109 is closed. As described hereinabove, valves 104 and 106are also opened, the pump 40 is energized during the cleaning cycle toeffect circulation through those portions of unit 10 contacted by etchand gum solution.

The hot water is circulated through the system, overflowing barrier 22from compartment 26 and compartment 24 and through tank 34 back tocompartment 26 for preferably several hours, dissolving any accumulatedforeign material. At the end of this cleaning period, switches 101, 103,105 and 107 are moved to off position and the system drained of the hotwater and entrained material. Unit 10 is now ready for the next re-startof operation.

It will be understood that unit 10 is provided with a control systemwhich preferably adapts unit 10 to mix fresh water fountain solution inrelatively small amounts (preferably about ten gallons) to ensure that.fresh solution is being continuously supplied to the water fountain panof the press.

It will be further understood that, in the event unit 10 is desired tosupply a number of water fountain pans, the solution feed and returnlines of the pans need only be connected, either in common or inparallel, to lines 42 '7 and 44, respectively, to permit continuousrecirculation of the solution through one or a plurality of Waterfountain pans.

Thus, there is provided a simple efiicient unit for supplying the properWater fountain solution from a central supply unit to the Water fountainpan of a printing press in a continuous recirculating system.

What is claimed is:

1. A method of supplying water fountain solution to at least oneprinting press Water fountain pan comprising the steps of supplyingsolution to said pan from a central solution supply unit, momentarilyinterrupting the flow of said solution from said unit to said pan whenthe solution supply reaches a predetermined lower limit, replenishingsaid solution supply at said central unit, reestablishing the flow ofsaid solution to said pan when said solution supply reaches apre-selected upper limit and returning the solution from said pan tosaid central unit in a recirculating flow.

2. The method as defined in claim 1, including interconnecting aplurality of Water fountain pans in sairecirculating flow of solution.

3. A method of supplying water fountain solution to at least oneprinting press Water fountain pan comprising the steps of supplyingsolution to said pan from a central solution supply unit, momentarilyinterrupting the flow of said solution from said unit to said pan whenthe solu' tion supply reaches a predetermined lower limit, automaticallyreplenishing said solution supply at said central unit in response tosaid solution supply reaching said predetermined lower limit,re-establishing the flow of said solution to said pan when said solutionsupply reaches a pre-selected upper limit and returning the solutionfrom said pan to said central unit in a recirculating flow.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,588,677 3/1952Welty l3739l X 2,792,912 5/1957 Kangas 137-391 X 2,900,176 8/1959 Krogell37-39l X M. CARY NELSON, Primary Examiner.

1. A METHOD OF SUPPLYING WATER FOUNTAIN SOLUTION TO AT LEAST ONEPRINTING PRESS WATER FOUNTAIN PAN COMPRISING THE STEPS OF SUPPLYINGSOLUTION TO SAID PAN FROM A CENTRAL SOLUTION SUPPLY UNIT, MOMENTARLYINTERRUPTING THE FLOW OF SAID SOLUTION FROM SAID UNIT TO SAID PAN WHENTHE SOLUTION SUPPLY REACHES A PREDETERMINED LOWER LIMIT, REPLENISHINGSAID SOLUTION SUPPLY AT SAID CENTRAL UNIT, REESTABLISHING THE FLOW OFSAID SOLUTION TO SAID PAN WHEN SAID SOLUTION SUPPLY REACHES APRE-SELECTED UPPER LIMIT AND RETURNING THE SOLUTION FROM SAID PAN TOSAID CENTRAL UNIT IN A RECIRCULATING FLOW.